Let's unpack this, because San Francisco political theater doesn't get much more transparent.

Chan, currently representing District 1 on the Board of Supervisors, is eyeing a jump to higher office. And Pelosi, freshly retired from Congress thanks in no small part to Scott Wiener's political maneuvering, seems eager to make her feelings known without technically committing to anything. As one SF resident put it bluntly: "One of Scott Wiener's greatest contributions will always be getting Nancy Pelosi to retire. No wonder she's salty."

The real question is whether Pelosi's not-quite-endorsement is a sincere signal of support or something more calculated. Some local political watchers suspect Chan's candidacy may function less as a serious bid and more as a strategic move to split the progressive vote — with the consolation prize being a future Assembly seat. It's the kind of backroom chess that makes voters' eyes glaze over and then wonder why nothing ever changes.

Meanwhile, Chan's actual record as supervisor leaves plenty to be desired, especially if you care about things like, you know, building housing. One local resident didn't mince words: "She's actively worked against any new building, she wants to open the Great Highway again, and generally has no interest in constituent feedback unless it aligns with her thinking. I'm so glad she's on her way out as D1 supervisor."

Another resident echoed the frustration more succinctly: "Why is Pelosi supporting this anti-housing and anti-environment person?"

Good question. Pelosi's coy praise-without-endorsement routine suggests this is less about Chan's qualifications and more about settling scores with Wiener's camp. And that's the problem with so much of San Francisco politics — it's more about who's mad at whom than who's actually going to fix things.

Voters deserve candidates who earn support on merit, not pawns in a retired Speaker's grudge match.